Vacuum cleaner having a water receptacle with no fastening means thereinbetween

ABSTRACT

The electrical household appliance of the invention comprises a vacuum cleaner comprising a water receptacle having a water filter, said water receptacle having an emptied front part and an emptied rear part, said emptied rear part receiving a motor projection from below such that the bottom surface of said receptacle is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said motor and said emptied front part is designed to accommodate a suction hose slot, said suction hose coaxially communicating with an inlet shaft of said water filter from below, said inlet shaft extending perpendicular to the bottom surface of said receptacle.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a vacuum cleaner directingcontaminated air into a water canister through which particles arefiltered out. More particularly, the present invention proposes a vacuumcleaner which does not involve any fastening elements to fix a filteringpurpose water receptacle onto the cleaner body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vacuum cleaners are known in prior art. The conventional vacuum cleanershave a body with an electrical motor sucking the air with the dirt to befiltered through a tube and put filtered air back into circulation.Vacuum cleaners are especially intended to clean dust in carpets and onthe floor, usually containing an enormous amount of micro-level dust.The sucked air is then introduced to the filter in the form of adust-collecting bag. The air allowed into the surrounding environmentdoes, however, mostly contain micro-level dust, which was not kept bythe closely-woven material of the dust-collecting bag.

Prior art vacuum cleaners with water filters are also deficient in thatthey are mainly heavy and also bulky in terms of the space they occupy.Those further require that motor housing be removed to reach the waterfilter in which contaminating particles are entrapped. Removal of themotor and also dismantling the water filter necessarily involvesunlocking of a series bearings, which in turn brings about an additionalimpracticality. Therefore cleaning of the water filter is not practicalas it is not easily accessible. It is therefore desirable to obtain awater filter type vacuum cleaner having an easily and directlyaccessible filtering and debris collecting tank without dismantling anyparts or bearings and as easily as just lifting a bucket.

Water filter as such emptied and filled with fresh water can bereinstalled as easily as just dropping a bucket on the floor. A waterfilter requiring no connection parts or bearings at all to properly fixthe same is a grand advantage because anybody with practically noexperience in using tools such as wrenches, or having no particularknowledge on how to fix a mechanical part in a secure manner intoanother mechanical part could do it.

Another advantage which is in fact also a very important one is thatelimination of mechanical connection elements lead to reduction inoverall costs. A household appliance requiring a reduced number offittings and fastening means such as bolts, nuts, clips, and clamps isadvantageous as it involves simplicity and necessitates less man-hourwork. A system consisting of a limited number of components is alsoadvantageous in that it requires maintenance to a lesser extent.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Primary object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleanerwhich does not require removal of the motor casing and dismantling thewater filter by way of unlocking a plurality of bearings, which isinstead easily cleanable by removing water receptacle having nofastening means to be secured to the vacuum cleaner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleanerhaving a water filter, which is not heavy and bulky in terms of thespace occupied.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleanerrequiring a reduced number of fittings and fastening means such asbolts, nuts, clips, and clamps, therefore involving simplicity andnecessitating less man-hour work during manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a vacuum cleaner having a waterreceptacle with a front part and a lower rear emptied part. Said emptiedpart is suitable for receiving a motor projection part from below suchthat said water receptacle is fixed onto the body of the vacuum cleaner.The receptacle requires no fastening means in the form of bearings orfittings for establishing a secure connection with the vacuum cleanerbody but the vacuum lock effect of the motor which communicates with thereceptacle from below, i.e. at the lower rear emptied portion ensuresthat said receptacle remains fixed during vacuuming operation. Thereforesuch a design involving vacuuming applied from below said receptacleensures a simpler and practical design.

Said receptacle's front portion is designed to accommodate a waterfilter whose main inlet shaft coaxially communicates with a suction hosesuch that said front part of said receptacle is emptied to allow joiningof said suction hose from below said emptied front portion. Said inletshaft extend perpendicular to the water surface in the receptacle.

Said water filter additionally comprises beside said inlet shaft, a topportion in the uppermost region of the receptacle and in fluidcommunication with said inlet shaft and extending parallel to the watersurface in the receptacle. Said top portion divides into two separatetubes at both sides of said inlet shaft such that each tube advanceparallel to the water surface along an uppermost part of the receptacleand then perpendicular to the water surface in the direction thereof.Said tubular portions perpendicular with respect to the water surfaceextend around both sides of said emptied suction hose portion in thefront part of said receptacle.

Said water filter comprises a front and a rear wing extendingperpendicular to the water surface. Said front wing extend between saidtubular portions, defined as air exit posts, and said emptied suctionhose portion such that they bear against the lateral wall of saidemptied suction hose portion, preventing liquid passage thereinbetween.Rear wing of the water filter, on the other hand, extend alsoperpendicular to the water surface and a certain distance behind saidair exit posts. Said rear wing also bear against the lateral wall of thereceptacle to prevent liquid passage thereinbetween. To this end, saidfront and rear wings define a region within which said air exit postsextend parallel to said wings and perpendicular to the water surface.The water being filled to a certain level in said receptacle, said frontand rear wings does not reach the water surface.

The present invention provides an air evacuation extension guidingfiltered air under vacuuming action such that building up of water wayson the inner surface of the receptacle lid on top of the motor region isprevented. This eliminates risk of liquid leakage into the motorcomponents. Water ways on the inner surface of the receptacle lid ismainly comprised of a large number of water droplets reaching the uppersurface of the receptacle due to a large number of bubbles rising to thewater surface and collapsing under vacuuming action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying avacuum cleaner whose advantages over prior art were outlined above andwill be explained in detail hereinafter:

FIG. 1 demonstrates a general perspective view of the householdapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 demonstrates a perspective view of the household apparatus withthe water filter assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 demonstrates another perspective view of the household apparatuswith the water filter assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 demonstrates a planar rear view of the water filter assemblyaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 demonstrates a planar front view of the water filter assemblyaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 6 demonstrates a planar side view of the water filter assemblyaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 demonstrates a top view of the water filter assembly according tothe present invention.

FIG. 8 demonstrates a planar front view of the water filter according tothe present invention.

FIG. 9 demonstrates a planar side view of the water filter according tothe present invention.

FIG. 10 demonstrates a planar top view of the water filter according tothe present invention.

FIG. 11 demonstrates a planar rear view of the water filter according tothe present invention.

FIG. 12 demonstrates a perspective view of the water filter according tothe present invention.

FIG. 13 demonstrates a planar top view of the water filter according tothe present invention.

FIG. 14 demonstrates a planar front view and a perspective view of theair evacuation shaft of the water filter according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 15 demonstrates a side view and a top view of the air evacuationshaft of the water filter according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 demonstrates an exploded perspective view of the householdappliance with the water filter assembly according to the presentinvention

FIG. 17 demonstrates a lateral cross-sectional view of the householdappliance with the water filter assembly according to the presentinvention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures outlined above, the present inventionproposes an electrical household appliance which is referred to inaccordance with the following numerals throughout this description.

-   1 Main Housing-   2 Water Receptacle-   3 Receptacle Lid-   4 Receptacle Handle-   5 Water Filter-   6 Air Evacuation Extension-   7 Suction Hose Junction-   8 Motor-   9 Planar Lower Body Portion-   10 Air Filter-   11 Main Housing Handle-   12 Suction Hose Slot-   13 Emptied Receptacle Portion-   14 Sealing-   15 Water Evacuation Hole-   16 Air Filter Clip-   17 Water Filter Inlet Shaft-   18 Air Evacuation Shaft-   19 Evacuation Extension Guiding Protrusion-   20 Receptacle Body-   21 Motor Projection-   22 Motor Air Intake Grid-   23 Receptacle Wall-   24 Upper Wall-   25 Water Filter Air Exit Post-   26 Underwater Aperture-   27 Water Filter Air Intake-   28 Lower Wall-   29 Rear Wing-   30 Front Wing-   31 Peripheral Shield-   32 Receptacle Ground-   33 Filter Lid-   34 Discharging Aperture-   35 Above Water Windows-   36 Evacuation Extension Guiding Slit-   37 Receptacle Motor Wall

The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention comprises a mainhousing (1) incorporating a water receptacle (2) in which filtering iscarried out. A receptacle lid (3) covering said water receptacle (2), areceptacle handle (4), a water filter (5) and an air evacuation shaft(18) constitute the main components in said receptacle (2).

The main housing (1) mainly presents a horizontally extending bodymovable on wheels located on both sides. An electrical motor (8) issecured in the rear side of said main housing (1). The front part of thehousing (1) comprises a planar lower body portion (9) for receiving saidwater receptacle (2) and an upwardly projecting part (21) in thevicinity thereof, in which said motor (8) is situated. The suction hoseenters the body at a junction (7) on the front part of the housing (1),said junction (7) directly leading sucked air to an inlet shaft (17) ofthe water filter (5). The rear part of the apparatus typically comprisesa cable reel or drum intended to be used for reeling in, storage, andreeling out of the cable, a control panel that fulfills variousfunctions and an air filter (10).

A separate housing handle (11) independent of the receptacle handle (4)allows users to lift the apparatus and carry it in an appropriatemanner. The water receptacle (2) according to the present invention isdesigned to be seated on the underlying surface, i.e. the planar lowerbody (9) of the main housing (1). The suction hose junction (7) in asuction hose slot (12) comprises a sealing element (14) for preventingescape of dust and air into the surrounding environment. Likewise,another sealing (14) is employed on the motor projection (21) where saidreceptacle's (2) emptied portion (13) is secured onto said main housing(1). These sealing elements (14) provide that air circulated through thewater receptacle (2) is not allowed out during intake and outtake.

In the event that water is spilled over the surface of the main housing(1) and over the lower body portion (9) on which said receptacle (2) issecured, a pair of water evacuation openings (15) are provided to alloweasier discharge of leakage water. A conventional dry type air filter(10) on the rear part of the apparatus is mounted and fixed thereon bymeans of a pair of clips (16). The air filter (10) conventionallyfilters air taken from the motor (8).

The water receptacle (2) according to the present invention is the coreof the filtering process according to which air sucked by vacuuming iscirculated through said water filter (5) and dust in the form of fineparticles in the sucked air is filtered out. The water receptacle (2)comprises a filtering means (5) guiding vacuumed air into water surfaceas explained hereinafter in detail.

An air evacuation extension (6) guides filtered air under vacuumingaction such that building up of water ways on the inner surface of thereceptacle lid (3) on top of the motor region is prevented. Thiseliminates risk of liquid leakage into the motor components. Water wayson the inner surface of the receptacle lid (3) is mainly comprised of alarge number of water droplets reaching the upper surface of thereceptacle (2) due to a large number of bubbles rising to the watersurface and collapsing under vacuuming action. Therefore, the presentinvention proposes an air evacuation extension (6) taking air at aregion of the receptacle (2) where the water filter (5) is present. Theregion where said emptied portion (13) of the receptacle (2) beingdirectly in contact with said motor projection (21).

The water receptacle (2) should be filled with water at a level where apair of windows (35) of an air exit post (25) lies above the waterlevel. Said air exit post (25) also comprise underwater apertures (26)greater in size in terms of the largest distance parallel to water levelcompared to said windows (35) above the water level.

The water filter (5) according to the present invention essentiallycomprises an air inlet shaft (17) where sucked air at the hose junction(7) is directed first to the inlet shaft (17), then through a pair oflateral air exit post (25), to the underwater apertures (26) and windows(35) above the water level. Sucked air first reaches an inner wall (24)of the filter before advancing to the air exit post (25). The receptacle(2) should normally be filled with water at a level in between these twosets of windows (respectively 26 and 35). The two sets of openings (26and 35) extending opposite the vacuuming direction according to theinvention ensure that particles in the air are to be filtered out moreefficiently. The lowermost surfaces of the air exit post (25) beingclosed provides the effect that air is directed in the reverse directionof the vacuuming, i.e. air is directed in the direction of the suctionhose junction (7). Dust and particles now contained in the water advancein the direction of the receptacle wall (23) and then upwards in thedirection of the intermediate wall (28), rear and front wings (29, 30)and peripheral shield (31). Therefore the intermediate wall (28)extending peripherally parallel to the receptacle ground (32) in betweenthe filter (5) upper body and the receptacle (2) upper rim such that anliquid tight connection is established, said rear and front wings (29,30) extending perpendicular to said receptacle ground (32) andperipheral shield (31) extending around said rear wing (29) and saidintermediate wall (28) in the manner to bear against the receptacle wall(23) such that no liquid communication is allowed, ensure that dust andparticles entrapped in the water are kept circulating within a regiondefined by said receptacle wall (23), rear and front wings (29, 30) andperipheral shield (31) and continuously re-directed to said receptacleground (32). This ensures that dust and particles are increasingly moreentrapped in water, maximum contact with water is ensured and adhesionforces are increased. To this end, a precipitate forms on the receptacleground (32), which in turn provides that air discharged into thesurrounding environment is clean.

The front wings (29), on the other hand, extend adjacent to thereceptacle wall (23 portion neighboring the suction hose slot (12) inthe form of two lines around said suction hose slot (12) in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the same. Said air exit posts (25)extend longitudinally parallel in the direction of the longitudinal axisof said suction hose slot (12). Each air exit post (25) face areceptacle (2) region divided by said suction hose slot (12). Thereforeair released form said posts (25) advances in the direction of areceptacle region delimited by the receptacle wall (23) and the wallsurrounding said suction hose slot (12).

The configuration of the motor (8) with respect to the water receptacle(2) according to the present invention ensures that the water receptacle(2) is locked on the lower body portion (9) of the main housing (1)during operation of the motor (8). The locking effect of the vacuum isremoved when said motor (8) is turned off, upon which a user can easilydismantle and lift said water receptacle (2) by means of said receptaclehandle (4).

The lowermost point of the inlet shaft (17) of the water filter (2)according to the present invention is at a longitudinally lower levelwith respect to the lowermost point of the air evacuation shaft (18) ofthe evacuation extension (6). The evacuation shaft (18) lying higherthat said inlet shaft (17) ensures that water in the receptacle (2) doesnot advance towards the evacuation extension (6) in the form of waterdroplets under vacuuming action. The air evacuation extension's (6) airintake opening extending adjacent to the receptacle lid (3), i.e. in theuppermost region of the receptacle (2), also ensure that water dropletscannot reach the air intake opening. Said air evacuation extension's (6)evacuation shaft (18) has a longitudinal axis coaxial to that of themotor projection (21) on which said motor air intake grid (22) ispositioned centrally. The air evacuation extension's (6) air intakeopening bears against the rear portion of the water filter, i.e. againsta portion where no direct air communication from the inside region ofthe filter (5) is possible.

A receptacle motor wall (37) provides a physical barrier such thatparticles entrapped in the water are not circulated to the airevacuation extension (6) region and remain in the water. Upon mountingof the water filter (5) in the receptacle (2), said inlet shaft (17) issecured to the water receptacle (2) such that no fluid communication inbetween said receptacle (2) and said inlet shaft (17) is present.

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a water receptacle (2) having a waterfilter (5), said water receptacle (2) having a front part and a rearpart, said rear part comprising an air evacuation shaft (18) incommunication with a motor (8) from below such that the bottom surfaceof said receptacle (2) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of saidair evacuation shaft (18) and said front part is designed to accommodatea suction hose slot (12), said suction hose coaxially communicating withan inlet shaft (17) of said water filter (5) from below, said inletshaft extending perpendicular to the bottom surface of said receptacle(5) characterized in that; said rear part of said receptacle (2)comprises an emptied part (13) receiving a motor (8) projection (21)from below such that the bottom surface of said receptacle (2) isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said motor (8) and, saidevacuation shaft (18) is vacuum locked with said motor (8) to beextending coaxially with respect to said motor's (8) longitudinal axissuch that said water receptacle (2) is removably fixed on the lower bodyportion (9) of the main housing (1) during operation of the motor (8).2. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said front part ofsaid receptacle (2) comprises an emptied front part (12) designed toaccommodate said suction hose slot (12),
 3. A vacuum cleaner as setforth in claim 2 wherein said receptacle (2) comprises a handle (4), 4.A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 3 wherein said vacuum cleanercomprises a main housing (1) having a front part with a planar lowerbody portion (9) for receiving said water receptacle (2) and an upwardlyprojecting part (21) in the vicinity thereof, in which said motor (8) issituated.
 5. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidhousing (1) said of said vacuum cleaner comprises a handle (11),
 6. Avacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lower body portion(9) of said housing (1) on which said receptacle (2) is securedcomprises at least one water evacuation opening (15) allowing easierdischarge of leakage water.